Aussie life expectancy reaches new high

Life expectancy in Australia has hit a new high, with the ACT leading the country based on 2015 figures.

Canberra residents are expected to live longer than other Australians as overall life expectancy hits a new high nationally.

Male life expectancy reached 80.4 years in 2015, with the figure for females rising to 84.5 years, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Between 2013-2015, the estimated combined life expectancy at birth estimate was 82.4 years, said the bureau's director of demography Beidar Chos.

"This was 11.9 years higher than the world average of 70.5 years in 2010-2015."

The ACT is leading the way with the highest life expectancy for both genders - 81.2 years for men and 85.3 years for women.

The Northern Territory recorded the lowest life expectancy of 75.7 years for males and 78.5 years for females.

Australia beats similar advanced-economy countries such as Canada, New Zealand, the UK and US.